PBM Conventions From: "Rob Harper" <stateofmind@breathemail.net> Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 00:00:00 +0000 First, apologies if this has been discussed to death before (I've only been part of this NG for a couple of months) but as I've missed any of this and things have been rather quiet here of late, thought I'd see what current thinking is on the matter of PBM Conventions. Feel free to killfile me or this subject if I'm just flogging a dead horse... Here in the UK, conventions have been organised for PBM enthusiasts since the mid-80's. The organisers and attendees have been primarily players and moderators of "commercial" games. The focus has always been on games that at least *can* be played by post (i.e. not exclusively e-mail or web based). The format of these conventions has, for the most part, remained the same: a one day event, centred on a trade hall, with a bar for drinking and chatting, and maybe a couple of events happening throughout the day. The traditional events have been an auction and a GM panel discussion, and sometimes something else. That's about it. These have made for fun days out, a good way for players and GMs to meet, and one of the best ways to find out about new games. Still, I can't help but wonder what else could be done? For the last few years, there has been Manorcon PBM, an offshoot of one of the UK's main boardgames conventions, which is a residential convention centred (so I believe -- I've never actually attended) around participation games and face-to-face versions of PBM games. What else could be done at a convention? At most non-PBM conventions, the trade hall is a minor element of the event, which instead features guests, debates, film screenings, and numerous other happenings. How would such things be greeted? Are, in fact, PBM conventions an outmoded anachronism? All this, and more, after this word from our sponsors... -- Luv&hugs, Rob. State of Mind Games (Play-By-Mail & other Pointless Exercises) http://www.homestead.com/stateofmind Referenced By Up